In a significant departure from tradition, President Bola Tinubu has cancelled the customary national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day, opting instead to deliver his address directly from the National Assembly. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which explained that the change was necessitated by the president’s scheduled attendance at a joint session of the National Assembly on June 12.
This marks the first time in recent history that a Nigerian president will forego the traditional nationwide broadcast on Democracy Day, a practice that has long served as a platform for the president to reflect on the nation’s democratic journey and outline key policy directions. According to the government, all other Democracy Day activities will proceed as planned, with the only alteration being the venue and format of the president’s address.
President Tinubu’s decision to speak from the National Assembly underscores the symbolic importance of the legislature in Nigeria’s democratic process and may signal a renewed emphasis on collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government. The move has sparked conversation among political observers, with some viewing it as a gesture of respect for the country’s democratic institutions, while others see it as a pragmatic adjustment to the president’s schedule.
As Nigerians prepare to mark Democracy Day, attention will now turn to the National Assembly, where President Tinubu is expected to deliver a speech addressing the state of the nation, ongoing reforms, and the challenges and opportunities facing the country’s democracy.
